Build It is a women’s business conference that offers opportunities for women to network and connect with fellow businesswomen. It focuses on key aspects such as determination, networking, and building connections with others. Founded by Lisa Daly, the event brings together female entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and passions to share valuable lessons from their journeys! From the moment I walked into the event, I was greeted by Lisa.  I attended the event last year, and we both recognized each other immediately! The room was decorated with booths in each corner, featuring different women sharing their products, along with sandwiches, chips, and salads! The title I had heading into the event was “student journalist” from Esperanza High School, and I was so excited to enjoy the event and meet women who have built businesses from the ground up. The day began with a variety of speakers who not only talked about their success but also the tangible steps that brought them there! Their speeches emphasized themes such as resilience and determination! Personally, I felt that what made the speeches stand out was the personal anecdotes they included. One woman described running a 26-mile marathon in honor of her grandfather, who had passed away that morning. Dealing with the death of a family member comes with extreme emotional tolls, and her speech really emphasized that. However, her grandfather’s death was not a reason to quit, but a motivation to continue running, even though it felt impossible given the circumstances. Another shared how she continued to build her business despite others doubting her vision. Everything felt so personable, which really made the event so meaningful to me as I left. After the speeches, we had the chance to network with the women at the event. They all shared a common drive and grit, and everyone in the room was truly building something amazing. I left with a stack of business cards, but more importantly, I felt I had learned a lot about how everybody starts out imperfectly. The perfect version of oneself must be “built” through perseverance, challenges, and wise emotional control. As the event came to a close, a quote at the front of the room read, “Don’t let your emotions control your actions, but let your actions control your emotions.” Overall, I definitely left Build It, feeling very grateful I had the opportunity to attend. As a senior heading off to UC Irvine, I feel the lessons I learned will be valuable in my future endeavors. 🙂